Gordon Gilkey was an American printmaker, print collector, educator and curator. His interest in prints began while he was a student. He received the first masters degree in printmaking at the University of Oregon, where he also started collecting prints. During the second world war Gilkey initiated a US military unit to minimise bomb damage to art and architecture in Europe. He served in the unit, and, at the end of the war, was involved in locating and repatriating works of art seized by the Nazis.

Wood is commonly used for relief printing although the printing surface can be made from almost any material. Gordon Gilkey has used a metal printing block for this relief print. 'Charred, Scarred and Stark', plays on the idea of printing surfaces by using a metal relief print to represent the textures of a burnt piece of wood. The white on black composition which is characteristic of the relief printing process, is very noticeable in this example.